Tag Archives | Adventure

It’s no secret that I love travel bucket lists… In 2009, I sat down and put pen to paper to write my 55 Places Travel Bucket List, showcasing the destinations I most wanted to visit in the entire world. But, while dreaming of faraway adventures like the Galapagos Islands, Japan and Bora Bora is always a good thing… I think people […]

When I was a kid, I absolutely loved reading Choose Your Own Adventure books. I always thought they were so whimsical and creative, and got a kick out of getting to choose each decision step by step to see where the story would take me. A few weeks ago, when it came time to celebrate my boyfriend […]

The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one’s own country as a foreign land.” – G. K. Chesterton Are you thinking ahead towards next year’s travels and looking for some inspiration a little closer to home? I’ve compiled my list of the […]

Another year has come and gone, which means it’s time to reflect on some of my favorite travels from the past 365 days! 2013 marked an important shift here at Packed Suitcase. While I had started #TravelLocal adventuring in October 2012, this year I focused on it nearly exclusively. I’m determined to become the go-to […]

As we drove the Blue Ridge Parkway deeper and deeper into the heart of south-western Virginia, we passed regional landmarks like Round Meadow Creek and the Mayberry Trading Post before turning onto Squirrel Spur Road, which snaked through the mountains on a scenic and serpentine path. Then, a sign: It’s a blink-or-you’ll-miss-it moment, but […]

World class spas. High thread-count sheets. Epic views. 5 star restaurants. Prime locations. Top-notch service. Luxurious spas and activities and amenities galore… Yes, I’ll admit it. I’m a sucker for a nice hotel. Here is my list of some of the dreamiest hotels in the mid-Atlantic, in no particular order. Some of these I’ve already visited, while others are […]

When attempting to fly fish, stealth is key. Every decision — from the fly you use, to where you stand, to the subtle way you flick your wrist — either helps you blend into the natural environment… or announces your presence to the underwater world below. Being stealthy when fly fishing isn’t easy. Dedicated anglers spend […]

Today’s #FriFotos theme is “WINGS.” It brought back fond memories of my summer trip to Alaska… and my flight in a float plane! It was terrifying at first – made even scarier by the fact that I witnessed a similar plane CRASH INTO A BOAT right as I was set to board. Everyone was miraculously […]

As a fledging “mid-Atlantic travel expert,” I’ve been road-tripping around the region practically every weekend for the past year in an effort to find the best and most unique experiences the mid-Atlantic has to offer. As a result, I frequently receive emails from people looking for help planning specific travels of their own. I’ve been […]

After my time with the bears in Katmai National Park, I wasn’t sure how anything else could possibly come close to topping that experience. But Alaska kept showing me her best, and the second half of my trip was filled with stunning scenery, diverse wildlife and amazing experiences. A real highlight was the Kenai Fjords […]

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Welcome to Packed Suitcase!

Packed Suitcase is a travel blog featuring quick, satisfying trips that can easily be done in a weekend from a mid-Atlantic home base.

All throughout the site, you'll find inspiration, tips, gorgeous photography and itineraries for the best quick-trip destinations, with special emphasis on showing the awesome side of lesser-known places and experiences.

Have weekend travels worthy of the Monday morning water cooler… without having to take a lot of time off of work.

About Me

My name is Chris and I'm a National Geographic Channel producer by day and a freelance travel blogger and photographer by night.

I’m passionate about empowering and enabling readers to find accessible ways to travel within their time-off constraints to become weekend warriors.